Sewing machine clamp mechanism



April 16, 1957 Filed March 15, 1954 w. E. NICHOLS SEWING MACHINE CLAMP MECHANISM 4 Speets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. WaH'er E Nichols ATTORNEYS April 6, 1957 w. E. NICHOLS 2,788,755

SEWING MACHINE CLAMP MECHANISM Filed March 15, 1954 4 SheetsS1'ieet 2 b I. v g

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Wa/fer E. Nichols mmix ATTORNEYS April 16, 1957 v w. E. NICHOLS 2,783,755

sswmc momma cum? MECHANISM 7 Filed March is, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3' i mmvrozc WaH'er E. Nichols BY M,M.M

' ATTOEQVEYS April 1957 E. NICHOLS 2,788,755

SEWING MACHINE CLAMP MECHANISM Filed March 1 .5, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. WaH'er 'E. Nichols ATTORNEYS United States Patent SEWING MACHINE CLAMP MECHANISM Walter E. Nichols, Milton, Mass, assignor to The Reece Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 15, 1954, Serial No. 416,133

14 Claims. (Cl. 112-76) This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to work clamp mechanism for securing and holding short end parts in position for sewing, such as the tabs and end parts of piped button holes, and tag ends of ribbons, straps and the like which are to be stretched out or folded back and stitched or tacked on themselves or other parts.

Since the machine is particularly useful in the finishing of piped buttonholes of the type formed on machines illustrated in patents to Bradford et al. No. 2,529,070 and Rich No. 2,573,359 it will be described in connection with that operation.

A piped buttonhole of this type is usually formed by folding and stitching a piping patch over the location of the buttonhole on the base material, slitting the patch and the base material and then turning the patch through the slit in the base material to the under side. In this process, end tabs are usually formed at the ends of the slits, and these, together with the ends of the folded patch must be gathered and stitched together to strengthen and hold the parts of the buttonhole. The end tabs, being short tag ends, have a tendency to stand up at an inconvenient angle so that it is dillicult to position them under the needle so that the parts can be stitched together. Being small, some of these parts cannot be held in conventional work clamps.

This invention provides a machine having work clamp mechanism which is capable first of securing some of the more conveniently grasped parts to be stitched, and then of reaching out to grab and lay over the tab ends which stick up, so that they too are securely held while stitches are passed through them. The mechanism is so connected to the machine that it operates automatically as part of the cycle of the machine, first securing and holding the work preliminary to sewing, and then releasing the work as the cycle comes to an end, with the operative parts in a position ready to repeat the operation in a subsequent cycle.

The invention is not limited to the finishing of piped buttonholes, but is adaptable to any application where it is desired to lay over one or more short ends onto other material to which it is to be stitched.

Further objects and advantages are apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is atop plan view of a piping patch including the slit.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the piping patch with the end tabs at the ends of the slit turned up.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the patch of Figs. 1 and 2 after it has been folded and turned through the buttonhole, but removed from the base material for clarity of illustration, showing the side of the patch normally facing under the base material.

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing the bottom face of the base material normally adjacent the patch but with the end tabs turned up and with the patch removed for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat expanded longitudinal section ice 2 through the piped buttonhole showing the patch under the base material.

Fig. 6 is a somewhat expanded longitudinal section of the buttonhole similar to Fig. 5 with the base material folded away from the buttonhole to expose the end parts so that they can be inserted in the sewing machine.

Fig. 6a is somewhat expanded sectional view of the parts in position to be stitched together.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the work clamp mechanism with the work inserted therein. 7

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the operativ parts in an advanced position. a c

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 with the opera tive parts in a further advanced position.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 7-9 showing the opera tive parts in final position with the parts of the work being stitched.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the work partly in' the clamp but not in final position.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 with the parts of the work being held and stitched.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the clamp mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the work from under the buttonhole after stitching is completed.

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of mechanism under the machine for controlling and operating part of the clamping mechanism of the invention. t

in the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3 show a piping patch 1 and Fig. 4 shows a piece of base material 2. These two parts, when brought into the relationship schematically indicated in Fig. 5, form the essential structure ofa piped buttonhole. The patch 1 has a buttonhole slit 5 terminating at each end with diagonal tab slits 6, thus forming end tabs 7. When arranged in final position under the base material, the piping patch has outer portions 3 and 4 and end folds 8. The base material 2 also has a similar slit It) terminated by tab slits 11 forming end tabs 12. The slits 5 and 1b and end tabs 7 and 12 of the patch and base material are superimposed forming a corresponding adjacent relationship, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is the purpose of the machine of the invention to clamp and sew the end parts 7, 8 and 12 together with stitching indicated at 15, as seen in Fig. 5, Without penetrating the main part of the base material 2. For this purpose, the part 2a of the base material 2 .is folded back, as shown in Fig. 6, in order to expose the end parts of one end of the buttonhole underneath. The result is that the exposed end tabs 7 and 12 stand up and away from the folded end 8 of the .patch 1 at an inconvenient angle, as seen in the left hand end of the buttonhole in Fig. 6, so that the parts are not in position to be penetrated by a needle and thereby stitched. It is desirable to bring the parts 7, 12 and 8 into the superimposed laminated position shown on theleft hand end of the buttonhole, seen in Fig. 6a, so that they can be penetrated by a needle 29 and thereby stitched together, and this is the primary object of the mechanism of the invention The invention can be adapted to be used with any sewing machine of the type having a work clamp relative to which the needle is fed to form a row of stitches in work in the work clamp. For illustrative purposes, the invention is shown and described for use in .a sewing machine of the type described in patent to Dahl No. 749,776.

Referring to Figs. 7-10 and 13, the machine has a work clamp arm 25 operating on a pivot 26 on the bed 27 of the machine. A rearwardly extending portion 23 of the arm is connected to the conventional clamp operating mechanism (not shown) in this type of machine, which lowers the arm 25 to clamp the work and raises it to unclarnp it. At the outer end of the arm 25 is pivotally connected at 30 a yoke 31 forming a pair of clamp members 32 having serrated lower surfaces 33 between which and a work plate 35 the outer end portions Sand 4 of the patch 1 are respectively clamped with the folded end portion 8 between the clamp members 32, as also seen in Figs. 11 and 12. After the work has first been clamped under the clamp members 32, it appears as seen in Figs. 7 and 11 with the end tabs 7 and 12 sticking upwardly; Associated with the clamp members 32 is a tab securing or wiping member 40 which, as seen in Figs. 710, operates to reach out and then down over the tabs 7 and 12 and then to ,Wipe or .dr agthem onto the, underlying material which is the end portion 8 of patch 1, so "that the needle 20 can penetrate the tabs 7 and 12 and the folded e ndportion .8 of the patch to form a row of stitching 15 .tosecure the parts. together, as seen in Figs. and 12.

- "Ihe wiping member 40 is mounted at the end of an arm 45 which is pivoted at 41 on an arm 42 which in turn is'pivoted at 43 to the base of the machine. A leg member 44 pivoted .at 46 between cars 48 on the arms 45 extends downwardly through a slot 47, indicated by dotted lines, in the arm 45 and is movable within limits controlledby the ends of the slot. The leg member 44 norinally rests in an erected position on the work plate 35, as shown in Fig. 7, thus holding the member 40 up and away fromthe work.v A spring 50 urges the leg 44 to the right, as seen in Fig. 7, into its erected supporting position and, a spring 51 urges the member 40 downwardly against the leg 44. The bifurcated end 55 of an arm 56 under the machine, seen also in Fig. 15, engages thelower end 57 of the arm 42 moving it to the left or rear of the machine and to the right or front of the machine, as seen in Figs. 7-10.

j When the work is placed in the. machine, the sides 3 and 40f the patch 1 are placed under the clamp members 32 with the folded end portion 8 of the patch between the clamp members 32 and theclamp members 32 are lowered against the work, as seen in Figs. 7 and 11, which .is in the position shown. The wiping member 40 is at first in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 7. Then the starting mechanism of the machine first moves the end :55 of the arm 56 to the left, as seen in Figs. 7-10, or downwardly, as seen in Fig. 15, swinging the arm 42 around its pivot 43 and moving the tab' securing member 40'to the right towards the front of the machine. When "the member 40 reaches the position shown in Fig. 8, the leg44 strikes an abutment 60 attached between the members 32 which causes the leg to collapse relatively to the left allowing the wiping member 40 to drop down against the work, as shown in Fig. 9. Thereupon the movement of thearms 56 and 57 is reversed, dragging the wiping member 40 over the tabs 7 and 12 to the left toward the 'rear of the machine, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 10. The wiping member 40 drags the tabs toward the rear of the machine and lays them down fiat against the folded end 8 of the patch 1 so that the needle can penetrate the laminated layers to form thestitching 15, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12.

After the stitching operation is completed and the machine comes to a stop at the end of the cycle, the clamp arm is raised in the usual manner releasing the work which is held by the clamp elements. As the clamp arm is raised the abutment 60 will engage the underside of the'wiping member 40 to raise it and to allow the leg 44 to move to the right under the action of the spring 50 and into erected position, shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 15, the machines of the type shown in patent to Dahl, No. 749,776 have a starting mechanism including an element 70 which moves to the left, as viewed, when the machine is started; Mounted on the element 70 is an adjustably positioned finger 71 arranged to engage a member 72 pivoted at 73 on an extension 74 of the arm 56. The arm 56 is pivoted at 78 under the machine and consequently when the finger 71 moves to the left engaging the member 72, the arm 56 is moved counterclockwise as viewed, moving the lower extension 57 of the arm 42 downwardly as viewed, or to the rear of the machine, i. e..to the left as viewed in Figs. 7-10. The finger 71 and the pivoted element 72 are arranged so that the finger 71. eventuallyrides past. the element 72 allowing the'arm'56 to return in a clockwise movement under the force ofa spring 80 into the clamping position shown in Fig. 10. In this occurrence, the :end 81 off the pivoted element 72 rides up onto a surface '82 on the finger'71 and causes the member 72 to rotate about its pivot against the action ofa spring 75 which urges the member 72 clockwise. j', The other end of extension 74 engages an abutment 83 to limit the clockwise return movement of the arm 56, thus holding the arm 56 in the position shown in Figure 10 until the sewing operation is completed. Thereafter, when the machine is stopped, the element 70 in the starting mechanism returns to the right allowing the spring 75 to move the member 72 clockwise, into the position shown in Figure 15, so that the parts are set for the operation of the next cycle.

While the operation of the wiping member 40 is shown and described as automatically actuated in connection with the initiation and termination of the operative cycle of the machine illustrated, it is apparent it can be manually or otherwise operated to secure the work in its position for sewing when used with this or other types of machines. a

Fig. 14 shows the completed piped buttonhole, as viewed from the backside, and showing the work after the completion of the operation by the machine of the invention. The end tab 7 has been laid fiat and then attached to the underlying cloth by the stitching 15.

I claim:

1. A machine for securing together end parts of a piped buttonhole, said buttonhole including a base part and a piping patch part attached thereto, at least one of said parts having a tab disposed to overlie an end of said patch part, said machine comprising in combination 'means for supporting said piping patch part in a fixed operating position, a wiping member mounted on said machine adjacent said'supporting means, means supporting said wiping member for movement in horizontal and vertical direction actuating means for said wiping member for moving said wiping member relative to said supporting means in an elevated position in one direction then in a lowered position in the opposite direction where by said wiping member is adapted to reach over and onto said tab and to drag it across and hold it against other parts of the work while the piping patch part remains in said fixed operating'position relative to saidsupporting means, and means to attach said tab to said other work parts. 7 a r r 2. A machine for securing together end parts of a piped buttonhole, said buttonhole including a base part and a piping patch part attached thereto, at least oneo'f said parts having a tab disposed to overlie an endfof said patch part, said machine comprising in combination a work clamp for holding said patch in a' fixed operating position, a wiping member mounted on said machine adjacent said work clamp, means supporting said wiping member for movement ;in horizontal and verticaldirections actuating rneans for said wiping member for moving said wipingmember relative to said work clamp in an .elevated position in one direction then in a lowered positionin the opposite direction whereby'said wiping memher is adapted to reach over' and onto said tab and to drag it across and hold it againstother parts ofthe' work while the patch remains fixed in said work clamp, and means to attach said tab to said patch part. r '3. Method of securing together an upstanding'tab par and another part of a fabric structure comprising the steps ,oflclamping said other,part;;;then-reaching out overlsaid tab part, then pressing said tab part downwardly onto said other part then wiping said .tahpart back over onto said other part and then sewing said tab part and said .other part together.

4. Method of securing together an upstanding tab part and another part of a fabric structure in position to be stitched together comprising the steps of clamping said other part in a sewing position, then reaching out over said tab part, then pressing said tab part downwardly onto said other part and then wiping said tab part back over onto said other part and holding it in a flat position on said other part.

5. A machine for sewing together end parts of a piped buttonhole, said buttonhole including a base part and a piping patch part attached thereto, at least one of said parts having a tab disposed to overlie an end of said patch part, said machine comprising in combination a work clamp for holding an end of said patch part in a fixed operating position, a wiping member mounted on said machine adjacent said work clamp, means supporting said wiping member for movement in horizontal and vertical directions, actuating means for said wiping member for moving said Wiping member relative to said work clamp in an elevated position in one direction, then in a lowered position in the opposite direction whereby said wiping member is adapted to reach over and onto said tab and to drag it across and hold it against said patch part end while said patch part end remains fixed in said work clamp, stitching mechanism operating to sew said tab and patch part end together, starting mechanism for setting in operation a sewing cycle and means connected to said starting mechanism for operating said wiping member before said stitching mechanism operates.

6. Work clamping mechanism in a sewing machine for securing together a tab part and another part of a fabric structure comprising in combination a clamp member operable to hold a part of said fabric structure in a fixed position, a wiping member means supporting said wiping member for movement in horizontal and vertical directions and means operating to move said wiping member relative to said clamp horizontally into a first position, then downwardly into a second position and then horizontally back into a final position whereby said wiping member is adapted to flatten and hold said tab part over said other fabric structure part while said clamp member holds said other part.

7. Work clamping mechanism in a sewing machine for securing together a tab part and another part of a fabric structure comprising in combination a clamp member for holding said other part in a fixed position, a wiping member for dragging said tab part over said other part, means including a pivot for supporting said wiping member providing horizontal and vertical movement thereof relative to said clamp, actuating means to impart said horizontal movement to said wiping member and means maintaining an upwardly retracted position of said wiping member relative to said clamp during its said horizontal movement in one direction and allowing a downwardly extended work engaging position during its said horizontal movement in the opposite direction.

8. Work clarnping mechanism in a sewing machine for securing together a tab part and another part of a fabric structure comprising in combination a clamp member for holding said other part in a fixed position, a wiping member, means supporting said wiping member for horizontal and vertical movement relative to said clamp for dragging said tab part over said other part, actuating means to impart said horizontal movement to said wiping member, a leg member pivotally mounted on said wiping member for holding said wiping member in retracted position and means to collapse said leg member to allow said wiping member to move downwardly to engage said tab.

9. Work clamping mechanism for sewing machines for securing and holding a short end of material to be stitched to underlying material, and in combination, a clamp element adapted to hold the, underlying material in a fixed position, a wiping member means supporting said wiping member for horizontal and vertical movemenL actuating means to move said member horizontally-outwardly relative to said clamp element, means to hold said member upwardly retracted relative to said 'clamp element during said movement, means to cause said member to descend relative to said clamp element at the end of said movement, said actuating means then operating to move said member horizontally in the opposite direction relative to said clamp element thereby to drag said member back over said short end to lay it over said underlying material, said member then remaining in a downward position relative to said clamp element and holding said short end during a subsequent sewing operation.

10. Work clamping mechanism for sewing machines for securing a short end of material to be stitched to underlying material, said machine having a fiat surface, and in combination, means supporting said wiping member for horizontal and vertical movement including an arm pivoted on the machine, a wiping member pivoted on said arm, means for moving said arm and wiping member relative to the machine, means to urge one end of said wiping member downwardly relative to the machine, a leg pivoted to said wiping member and erected against said fiat surface thereby preventing said downward movement when the wiping member is moved generally horizontally in one direction, and means to collapse said leg at the termination of said movement thereby causing said wiping member to move downwardly relative to said machine thereby to engage said short end and to lay it over said underlying material when said wiping member is moved horizontally in the opposite direction.

11. Work clamping mechanism for sewing machines for securing a short end of material to be stitched to underlying material, comprising in combination, a work support surface, a clamp, means to support the clamp relative to the support surface means to lower said clamp relative to said support surface, an arm pivoted on the machine and movable in a plane normal to the support surface, a wiping member supported pivotally on said arm and also movable in said plane, a leg pivoted on said wiping member and movable to an erected position on the support surface to maintain said wiping member in a raised position and to a collapsed position to allow said wiping member to descend toward said support surface, means to urge said wiping member downwardly, and means on said clamp to trip said leg at the end of movement of the wiping member in one direction, said means operating to raise the wiping member when the clamp is raised.

12. In the combination as set forth in claim 11, means to actuate said arm in timed relation to the operation of a said machine.

13. In the combination as set forth in claim 11, clamp actuating means to lower said clamp in timed relation to the operation of a said machine and means operating thereafter to actuate said arm.

14. In the combination as set forth in claim 13, said clamp actuating means operating to raise said clamp and thereby said wiping member at the end of an operating cycle of a said machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,537,155 Allen May 12, 1925 1,640,283 Miller Aug. 23, 1927 1,660,755 Kiewicz Feb. 28, 1928 1,722,658 Busha July 30, 1929 2,130,509 Regen Sept. 20, 1938 2,252,356 Seaman Aug. 12, 1941 2,529,072 Bradford et al Nov. 7, 1950 (Other references on following page) OTHER REFERENCES FOREIGN PATENTS hart8zCq. Inc. (copy availablein Div. 24), June 3,1949, 601,973 Gcrmany: Sept, 1, 1934 P The New Encyclopedia of Modern Sewi eg; Wm. H.

- l I V V v 1 Wise & Co., Inc. (copy available in Div. 24), September Good Housekeeping Needlecraft Encyclopedia, Rine- 5 12, 1949, page 175. 

